Thoughts of a Contemplating Guy who Loves Jesus

Well... my post last July said that I was going to run a 1/2 marathon w/ my brother. HAHAHA! That's not going to happen. Not because I haven't gotten into better shape, but more for the fact that I HATE running! I've run a little bit, but nowhere near the amount I'd have to to be able to run a 1/2 marathon. But I am now in a lot better of shape and still have a long way to go. So far, I've lost slightly over 50lbs! But I'd still really like to lose another 50lbs. We'll see what happens. Here's a pic of my face to give you an idea of the progress. I didn't take a full body 'before' pic, which I now regret. But this is better than nothin:



On another note... we are having a baby! Hannah is due July 20. We're both really excited. We had the ultrasound yesterday and that was awesome. We had the ultrasound lady write down the gender of the baby and place it in a sealed envelope. Hannah and I are going to go out tomorrow on a date night and we'll open it then. But that way we get to spend some awesome time with one another and celebrate. The ultrasound yesterday was between her getting out of her high school day and then going to the night class she teaches at the local community college. So we wanted to find the gender out when we had some time to hang out and celebrate. And if you're curious... we aren't sure yet if we're going to tell anyone else. Kinda fun to keep secrets from everybody else ;)

So that's what's going on lately. Hope that this finds you doing well!

so i got a call from my brother today. he's 20 and goes to Johnson Bible College and is interning this summer at our home church Center Pointe Christian Church in West Chester, OH. last week he was out visiting and we decided that we were going to have our own 'biggest loser' challenge at the wager of $50 (he's a college kid and can't afford to lose more than that).

so then this week he went to CIY Move with the high school crew from church. last night at the conference they handed out envelopes to every student at the conference. they were told that inside the envelope there was a challenge and before opening their envelope, they had to commit to accomplishing the task before next summer. so those who decided they were going to do whatever was in the envelope had to commit to doing it before opening it. brad didn't take one of the envelopes, but the other intern, joe, did. so brad said that he would do whatever joe had to do. joe opened up his envelope after he and brad committed to doing whatever was in it, and inside was the challenge to get healthy and run a marathon!

so on there way home today, brad gave me a call and told me the story and asked me to run in the Flying Pig 1/2 Marathon in May in Cincinnati. the reason for the 1/2 instead of the full is that both of us are way out of shape and are really big guys. the 1/2 is more realistic for us. but we also have 10 months, so we if we get to the point around December or January where we feel we can do more, the we'll do the full marathon.

but anyways... brad had already committed to it before he even saw the piece of paper, but i had nothing forcing me to do it. i hate running... seriously. i don't just strongly dislike... i dread. it's a pure hatred. the hatred may stem from football days where all the running we did was for punishment, but nevertheless, i really really really hate running.

that being said... i told brad that i'd do it. that was like 3 hours ago or so, and i'm already having second thoughts. i really want to get in shape, and my first week of working out and eating better went really good, but the thought of running 1/2 a marathon is a lil intimidating. but... i've told him that i'm going to do it and i better hold to my word.

so it looks like i gotta start building in some running to my workouts in addition to my time on the bike